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Buzz - Newsbriefs 08/05 |
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Speed Climbers Set Record
For many, reaching the top of a Cascade volcano is an achievement unto itself. But for Buzz Burrell, 53, and Peter Bakwin, 43, endurance climbers from Boulder, Colo., merely summiting a mountain is not challenging enough.
On June 9 and 10, the pair set a new mountaineering speed record by completing back-to-back climbs of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and Mount Hood – the Cascade Trifecta – in 28 hours and one minute. The record included driving time between the three mountains, all located in northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington.
Mount Rainier (14,411 ft.), Mount Adams (12,281 ft.) and Mount Hood (11,249 ft.) are the three highest volcanoes in Oregon and Washington’s Cascade Range. Burrell and Bakwin had to traverse 42,000 vertical feet of elevation change over 36 miles to capture
the record.
The skilled mountaineers were slowed by adverse weather conditions on Mount Adams and Mount Rainier, keeping the men from finishing in 24 hours, their original goal. Complicating their expedition, Bakwin fell into a crevasse on Mount Rainier when a snow bridge collapsed, relying on Burrell to perform a rescue.
More information about the Cascade Trifecta is available from Uncage the Soul Productions, www.uncagethesoul.com.
- By Sara Gray |
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Fischer Scales Seven Summits
Danielle Fisher, a 20-year-old from Bow, Wash., recently became the youngest person ever to climb the seven summits (the highest peak on each of the seven continents) when she reached the top of Mount Everest on June 2, 2005. Starting in January 2003 with her ascent of Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, she spent the next two years working to reach her goal. She reached the peaks of Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Kosciuszko, Denali, Vinson, and finally, Mount Everest.
Fisher completed one year of undergraduate studies at Washington State University before taking the year off to prepare for Mount Everest.
The youngest person before Fisher to climb the seven summits was 23-year-old Britton Keeshan of Connecticut.
To learn more, see www.daniellefisher.net.
- By Sara Gray |
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Locals Top Triathlon Charts
Inside Triathlon magazine named two Northwest triathletes to their first-ever National Age Group Team.
Elizabeth Thompson, 26, of Seattle, Wash., and Joe Pointer, 44, of Beaverton, Ore., were chosen from 1,026 applications to join the 31-member team.
Thompson qualified in April for the USA Triathlon National Age Group Championships taking place on Aug. 13 in Kansas City, Mo. A personal trainer and triathlon coach, she is committed to helping other athletes achieve their own pursuits.
Pointer has won several races in the Northwest over the past couple of years in the Clydesdales (men over 200 pounds) division, and also placed second in that division at the USA Triathlon National Age Group Championships last September. He completed his first half ironman, the Pacific Crest Triathlon, in June.
“I’m never going to be an Ironman Hawaii triathlete,” he said. “but I love the competitive side of the sport and the mental challenge it requires.”
The National Age Group Team is made up of athletes who demonstrate the “true quality of age-group triathletes.” Team members will receive coaching software, PowerBar products to help them fuel their rigorous training, and other items to help encourage them to promote triathlons as they race.
For more information, see www.insidetri.com/triteam.
- By Sara Gray |
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Hike for a Cause
Hikers all over the state of Washington are invited to participate in the Washington Trails Association’s (WTA) Hike-a-Thon this August.
Participants throughout the state can register any time after July 1 at www.wta.org by agreeing to receive pledges for the number of miles they hike during the month of August.
At the end of August, after keeping a log of miles hiked, they collect their donations and are entered in a raffle to receive prizes for their efforts.
The WTA will host two group hikes during the month of August so that Hike-a-Thoners can gather together. The first, hosted by the WTA, will be on Aug. 13 at Yellow Aster Butte in the Mount Baker Ranger District. The second group hike, led by sponsor Montrail, will be on Aug. 20 at Lower Lena Lake in the Hood Canal Ranger District.
Last year, the WTA raised $5,200 through their first annual Hike-a-Thon – a combined effort of 14 people. The money was used to improve and enhance hiking trails throughout the state of Washington. Just imagine the improvements that could be made with 50 participants!
For more information on the summer Hike-a-Thon, see www.wta.org.
- By Sara Gray
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Get a Healthy Start
Whether you’re a morning person or not, you’ll jump-start your day at the third annual Baker’s Healthy Start Foundation Triathlon, Sunday, Aug. 7.
The event, taking place in Bellingham, Wash., includes a 1.5k swim in Lake Whatcom, a 40k bicycle ride on local roads and a 10k run on Electric Ave. and through Whatcom Falls Park.
The race is open to both age group and elite competitors. It will conclude at Bloedel Donovan Park, where there will be an awards ceremony and post-race events including a celebration for all competitors and spectators – and plenty of free Baker’s Breakfast Cookies to go around. There will be a $20,000 prize awarded in the pro category, and raffles and giveaways of all kinds for all event participants.
The race is the Under 23 National Triathlon Championship as well as the Junior and Youth U.S. Triathlon National Championship. This championship event will qualify athletes for the Junior National Team, to compete at the ITU Triathlon World Championships in Gamagori, Japan.
The Baker’s Healthy Start Foundation was started by Baker’s Breakfast Cookie founder, Erin Baker, and it provides resources, money and cookies to Title I children in local school districts, according to Bryan Geschwill, president of the foundation.
Other events include the Bellingham Herald Kids Off-Road Duathlon, set for 7 a.m. on Aug. 6, followed by the opening of the Baker’s Healthy Start Foundation Fitness Expo in Bloedel Donovan Park.
The registration fee for the triathlon is $85 after July 10.
Race Schedule:
6:30 a.m.: Race start, Age Group competitors
Noon: Race start, Elite Female competitors
2:40 p.m.: Race start, Elite Male competitors
5:30 p.m.: Awards Ceremony, Bloedel Donovan Park
For more information about the Baker’s Healthy Start Foundation Triathlon or Fitness Expo, call the race information line at (504) 464-6561 or visit www.trithecookie.com.
- By Sara Gray |
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